Raleigh,
N.C. — According to
the latest poll in the state, Democrat Tim Kaine and George Allen are now an
even match for U.S. Senate. Both candidates take 46% of the vote with George
Allen up two points from PPP’s last poll on the race in July.  Kaine continues to lead among women 50-39,
while Allen gains more support from men, now 53-40.  Tim Kaine now takes 86-6 of the Democratic
support, up two points from July, while George Allen now has 88-4 of
Republicans, up one point from the previous poll.

“The Virginia
Senate race continues to be inside the margin of error,” said Dean Debnam,
President of Public Policy Polling. “Neither candidate has been able to
separate himself and it seems unlikely that will happen between now and
November either.”

When
it comes to Governor Bob McDonnell, 48% approve of his job performance.  Those polled who identify as very
conservative approve McDonnell at 77%, while 59%  of somewhat liberals disapprove. While 55% of
men approve of McDonnell, only 40% of women do.

For
U.S. Senate, 50% approve Senator Mark Warner’s job performance, while only 37%
approve of Senator Jim Webb.   Warner
takes the majority of approval of those who identify as moderate, up 17 points
over Webb (61-44). While Warner and Webb have strong Democratic approval, 64%
and 52%, respectively, only 16% of Republicans approve of Webb, a 13 point
difference behind Warner at 29%.

39%
of those polled in Virginia have an unfavorable opinion of Eric Cantor.  68% of those who identify as somewhat liberal
view Cantor as unfavorable, and only 23% of women and 30% of men favor the
House Majority Leader.

Papa
John’s pizza’s founder and CEO stated last week that he was against providing
health insurance for his current full-time, uninsured employees.  However, when Virginians were asked if they
would pay an additional 11-14 cents per pizza to ensure that Papa John’s
employees would have health care, 59% stated they would be willing to pay
more.   

PPP surveyed 855 likely Virginia
voters from August 16 to 19.  The margin
of error is +/-3.4%.  This poll was not
paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys
are conducted through automated telephone interviews.

Topline results are below.  Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of George Allen?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 43%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tim Kaine?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 45%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 12%

Q3 The candidates for Senate this fall are
Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George
Allen. If the election was today, who would you
vote for?
Tim Kaine……………………………………………….. 46%
George Allen…………………………………………… 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%

Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Bob
McDonnell’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 48%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%

Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark
Warner’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .50%
Disapprove…………. .27%
Not sure …………….. .23%

Q6 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim
Webb’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .37%
Disapprove…………. .37%
Not sure …………….. .26%

Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Eric Cantor?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 27%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%

Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Artur Davis?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 5%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 84%

Q9 If there was an election for Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 45%
Republican……………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%

Q10 Would you pay 11 to 14 cents extra for a Papa
John’s pizza to ensure that the company’s
employees have health care, or not?
Would pay more………………………………………. 59%
Would not……………………………………………….. 22%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%

Q11 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 44%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 5%

Q12 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 12%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 32%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 15%

Q13 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%

Q14 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 37%
Republican……………………………………………… 30%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 33%

Q15 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 70%
African-American …………………………………….. 17%
Other……………………………………………………… 12%

Q16 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 37%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%

Q17 Were you born in Virginia or in another state?
Virginia…………………………………………………… 49%
Another state ………………………………………….. 51%

Q18 How long have you lived in Virginia: 10 years
or less, 11 to 20 years, 21 to 30 years, 31 to 40
years, or more than 40 years?
10 years or less ………………………………………. 12%
11 to 20 years …………………………………………. 19%
21 to 30 years …………………………………………. 18%
31 to 40 years …………………………………………. 19%
More than 40 years………………………………….. 31%